Online Management Degree Programs

Online Management Degree Programs

Majority of entry-level management positions require at least a bachelor degree and many management professionals start their career with a bachelor degree. Management is an essential function of all business and undergraduate management degree programs provides students with a solid foundation in business and management, typically specializing on particular management area. Students who pursue graduate degrees in management are prepared for high level positions and further specialization. Read more about online management degree programs.

Some Stats

In 2006, there were 47,684 associate degrees conferred in business administration and management, and 14,486 associate degrees in other business and management fields. There were 128,365 bachelor, 89,010 master and 837 doctorate degrees in business administration and management. There were also 2,471 bachelor, 1,078 master, and 14 doctorate degrees in operations management; 4,633 bachelor, 256 master, and 15 doctorate degrees in hospitality administration and management; 32,407 bachelor, 2,183 master, and 43 doctorate degrees in marketing management; and 1,455 bachelor and 139 master degrees in construction management (1).

Employment Outlook

Career outlook for management jobs varies greatly among disciplines. The field of management is so large, but many areas are experiencing good job growth. For example, employment of management analysts is projected to grow 22% from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than average. Human resources managers are expected to experience a 17% growth in employment by 2016, which is faster than average (2).

Specialties

In the field of management, there is a wide variety of specializations that students can focus on, including operations, accounting, business, sustainable, non-profit, retail, hospitality, contract, human resources, marketing, corporate, logistics, healthcare, construction, property, project, financial, and general management. The most common specializations for management degree programs are business, marketing, financial, operations, and human resources management.

What to Expect

Management is a broad field and many graduates enter the field with a bachelor degree and specializations usually start at the undergraduate level. Undergraduate management programs will include general education courses in English, math, and social sciences along with a strong emphasis on business and management. The goal of management courses is to enable students to develop the essential competencies in business to become proficient in the administration of human and physical resources. Courses in management may include accounting, finance, management practices, organization, ethics, management theory, business strategies, and managing people and activities. Master degrees prepare graduates for higher level positions in management. A Master of Business Administration with concentration in Management is a very popular degree. Doctorate degrees prepare graduates for further specialization in a specific management field.

The End Result

An undergraduate management degree can be applied to almost every industry and organization. It opens the door to job opportunities in a variety of fields. Students have a great deal of flexibility and value in the very competitive business marketplace. Students who decide to pursue advanced education and gain a master or doctorate degree will be prepared to transition into higher management positions. Career opportunities for management degree graduates include:

People who enjoy managing people and activities will find the management field a rewarding work environment. Managers solve problems by using their education and experience. They analyze data, establish and accomplish goals, and evaluate the results to help organizations adjust to essential changes. They are involved in planning, organizing, directing, and monitoring activities to achieve objectives in an organization.

(1) SOURCE: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics
(2) SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition